Today we will be learning about lions, and then you will lean "how to draw lions". As you all know, lions live in Africa. They are carnivores, very mean, raging beasts. These, creatures travel in groups and attack larger animals such as the Zebra, Gazelle, Antelope and other plant eaters. Lions are large cats and can weigh up to six-hundred pounds. They are the second largest feline after the beautiful tiger. Lions can live up to eleven to fourteen years. When in captivity, they can live up to twenty years old. Their inhabitants consist of savannah and grassland. Some lions are known as man-killers. They prey upon humans. Although they may seem beautiful and cute, in reality they’re mean eating machines. There have been many reports that lions have attacked humans. A near extinct lion specie is the Persian lion. Groups and organizations come together and keep them in captivity. The male lions can be identified by their large fluffy manes and a tuft at the end of their tail. Female lions have no mane and a bare tail. You will see how awesome it is to learn "how to draw a lion", step by step. I hope you enjoy this tutorial based upon the lion. It was fun coloring the hair in photoshop.

How to Draw a Lion

STEP 1.

This tutorial is full of tip steps and this is the first of a four part series. Here you see with tip 1, when drawing in a 3/4 view, the lion's face shape is completely narrow. As you can see with the second tip for the lion's head to the left, the lip line for a lions mouth should be drawn in a bold manner. As for the lion to the right, as seen in the third tip, the lion's jowls should be drawn to look fluffed outwards, and the lower jaw should look to be underneath. Tip four, the bride of the nose should align with the beginning points of the eyes. This is a good way to determine how wide the lion's nose should be drawn.

STEP 2.

Here you see a rough sketch of how a lion looks when they are in a predatory stance. As you can see when in this pose, the front legs are spread apart, and the back legs are very stiff looking. The mane should be as long as the chest of the lion because that is how far down a lion mane grows when they are adults.

STEP 3.

This simple tip step is going to teach you how to draw a lions eye properly. Number 1, the eye should slant upwards and then slope downwards. Number 2, Lions have light definition beneath their eyes which is a lighter shade of their natural color.

STEP 4.

Here is how a fully drawn lion should look when completed. To draw a realistic and simple mane, add tufts with every stroke. From the front view of a lion, all four of their toes are visible and are arched up. And when drawn in a 3/4 view, only three toes are visible.

STEP 5.

This is the first drawing step to drawing a lion. Begin by drawing out one circle for the head, and then draw out a big almond shape around the head for the lion's mane. Lastly, add the facial guidelines.

STEP 6.

You will now begin lightly sketching out the outline of the lion's actual face and head shape. The lines should be pointed at some ends, and this just gives that hair effect. Sketch out the chin and bottom jaw like so, and move to step seven.

STEP 7.

Using the facial guidelines you drew in step one, sketch out the lion's eyes. You will also color in the dark areas to the eyes and then sketch in the definition under the eyes. Next, draw out the nose tip like you see here and make sure it is nice and wide. Don't forget to draw in the line starting from the bottom tip of the nose. This is the line that separates the two jowls or lips.

STEP 8.

All you have to do here is lightly sketch in the whisker holes on the jowls, and then sketch in the whiskers themselves.

STEP 9.

Now that the lion's face is all set, lets start working on getting the mane sketched out. Use that almond shape you drew in the previous step as a guide to start sketching out the mane. Remember when I said with each stroke make a tuft. This is the effect of long, flowing hair. Once the mane is drawn, sketch out the ears and add some detailing to them as well.

STEP 10.

This is the first step to drawing the lion's body. Start by drawing out the front legs and then the paws. As you can see the claws are slightly exposed.

STEP 11.

Now because you are drawing this lion on a 3/4 view, only some of the back end of the body is exposed. All you need to do is draw out the back, butt, and then the lion's hind leg. As you can see the hip is more visible then the butt of the beast. Sketch out the back paw and all the toes, as well as the claws.

STEP 12.

This is the last drawing step. All you need to get done now is drawing out the long tail. All male lions have that hair on at the end of the tail. Female lions do not, they just have a bare tail. Once the tail and tail mane is drawn, you can start erasing the lines and shapes that you drew in step one. Sketch in detailing and definition to the lion before moving to the next step.

STEP 13.

Here is what your beast looks like when you are all done. Now you can go ahead and color it in to your liking. I had so much fun teaching you guys how to draw a lion. Join me next time for more drawing fun.

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